MemberTo have a kind of long ceremony/reception and not serve dinner? I’m getting married in the fall so I’m having my ceremony outdoors at around 5. We figure a 30 minute ceremony and an hour for pictures (we’re also doing a first look) then reception to start at 6:30.We have the place rented until 11 pm. We probably won’t stay that long, but approximately six hours… I really need opinions on this please.
MemberWould you be serving some food, like heavy appetizers? I think if you are going to keep your guests for 6 hours you do need to make sure they are full.
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MemberI would expect dinner or some sort of food to be served. I think it would be odd not have something for your guests that are attending your wedding.
MemberFiance and I went to a wedding last year and all they had was veggie platters and cheese. The wedding was at 5 and the reception started at 6, so we assumed they were serving dinner. I guess we should have asked, but every wedding I have ever been to served dinner.
I think at that time people are going to expect dinner, or at least SOMETHING that will fill their tummies. There were people leaving the wedding at like 7 to go get something to eat. It was just so crappy.
MemberI’ve been to a wedding that had similar hours to what you’re describing, and I have to warn you that if you don’t serve some type of food, guests will leave really early. It doesn’t matter if it’s just deli sandwiches or cheap pasta, a little food will go a long way.
MemberThat is prime dinner time. You have to consider that your guests will not eat dinner before a 5:00 ceremony; they will expect (based on the time) that they will be fed. You don’t have to serve a formal sit-down dinner, or even a complete dinner buffet, but you do have to serve enough food to replace dinner (heavy appetizers would do). I like the idea of food stations – pasta stations, mashed potato bars, flatbreads with different toppings are all relatively inexpensive yet filling. You could even do a gourmet slider station…:)
MemberThey’re going to be expecting something. They’re not going to eat before the come either.
MemberYou simply cannot ask your guests to arrive before 5 pm and not serve enough food to constitute a meal no matter what form it takes.
I’m guessing that you normally eat a meal between 5 pm and 11pm. So do your guests.
MemberWe went to a ceremony at 5:30 reception at 6:30 and NO food the entire time! I’m sorry, tortilla chips and dip, celery sticks and ranch, and a champagne glass with shrimp and grits in it just aren’t cutting it for 150 ppl. We ended up leaving early along with a lot of other ppl b/c we were all so freaking hungry. I didn’t get first dibs on the shrimp and grits b/c I told my Fiance I was saving room for dinner, only to find out an hour later there was no dinner! We are working our budget to make sure we’re having food.
MemberYeah, if the reception is starting at 6:30 and lasting longer than a couple of hours, then I’d expect dinner. Otherwise you’ll probably have people leaving after an hour or two in search of a full meal.
MemberCould you make it start at 7? (romantic shortly before sunset)
or at noon?
MemberI would definitely expect some substantial food (not necessarily a full on dinner) at that time of day. Leaving a wedding hungry – especially for out of town people – will not endear you to your guests!
Memberif you are inviting guests to be there from 5pm to 11pm you have to serve them something
heavy hors dourves/appetizers at the very least and maybe mention that you are serving platter food only, that way people have the choice to leave after the ceremony. do not make your guest stand around for hours wondering if there is going to be food served
MemberYea, you definately want to feed your guests or else you’ll end up wasting money on an empty venue because people are going to leave really early to eat.
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